Good companies are as good as their employees and employees work better when they are ‘managed’ better. Managing staff with diverse personalities, responsibilities, and ambitions could be a little overwhelming. After all, each one has its own roles, responsibilities, and pet –peeves to worry about.
Management would be truly easy if everyone worked in collaboration, had a great attitude and exceptional talent. But then there would be no charm left in managing people! Any organization is made up of a diverse set of people. Some of them are hardworking, some aren’t. Some are collaborative and have a great attitude and some do not! Some have the expertise and ambition, yet some lack that kind of motivation. Honestly, managing people is art!
Here are a few tips for managing a diverse set of people:
Try to understand ‘why’
There’s always a reason why one person is difficult to manage and another is easy. Even though it’s hard to imagine, re-evaluate your managing style. Maybe you can change something there! Unnecessary micromanagement of people could be one of the contributing factors. If you want people to work at their fullest potential, you need to give them the freedom to work at their fullest potential and not micromanage every step they take.
Never avoid conflict
Deal with conflicts – always. Never avoid or bulldoze them. As long as you are in the same organization, you are going to be working with the same people. So, might as well resolve your conflicts and maintain a great work environment. Avoiding or crushing conflicts will only worsen the situation.
Set clear and measurable objectives
Setting clear targets is important for performance management. Whenever you set targets for your employees, make sure that they are practical and make sure that they are crystal clear. Any ambiguities will definitely cause conflicts later on. Moreover, it makes your employee evaluation process concrete, and employees truly understand where they stand.
Assets and liabilities
Thinking in terms of assets and liabilities makes things simpler. Even the most brilliant people could be very difficult to manage. Try providing constructive feedback to such people. If nothing seems to work, sometimes you need to reconsider your options and ask yourself – is this person an asset to the company or a liability? Does his work outweigh his problems? You might have to let go of some of the liabilities, but do not fret, it’s part of your job!
Accept that management is an inherently complex job!
Always remember that frustrations arising from handling difficult situations on a day-to-day basis are a part and parcel of the job! It’s definitely going to be a difficult day – every day! That’s why you are compensated more than the non-managers!
Well, management is an art and has its own charm. As in most forms of art, there is no rulebook that defines it. The only experience that could help you get it right! So, be patient and persistent while you manage a diverse set of people!